I love telling coming-of-age stories for adults, usually through the lens of comedy, as
that's my coping mechanism of choice. I enjoy exploring characters reckoning with their identities, and am interested in the ways we keep evolving and defining ourselves throughout our lives.
SATURN RETURN
feature film
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Logline:
A canceled manifestation coach hitches a cross-country ride with a young cynic in an attempt to restore her reputation and regain her coveted spot at an upcoming conference.
Placements:
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Top Ten, Launch Pad Feature Competition
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Finalist (current), ScreenCraft Feature Competition
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Second Rounder, Sundance Development Track
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Selected Coverage:
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"SATURN RETURN is a shining example of tonal precision...this writer manages to satirize the absurdity of Paisley's world with a sense of compassion that prevents the comedy from feeling cheap or caricaturish....and in their impressive detail, the various US settings take full advantage of the road trip format. The central roles stand to entice some formidable talent (Paisley is a particularly delightful comedic vehicle), and life as a low-to-mid budget studio crowd-pleaser is hardly unrealistic. Separately, the project will also serve as a particularly versatile writing sample. While most calling card specs demonstrate a singular focus, the textured comedic tone shows off the writer's talent for the low-brow, the cerebral, and the non-sequitur in equal measure." - The Blacklist
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"The writer does such a wonderful job of fleshing out the protagonist. There's a really great balance between poking fun at the protagonist's flaws (and the world of wellness), while still ensuring the protagonist is a sympathetic figure. Meanwhile, her relationship with Kiara unfolds in organic fashion, leading to character arcs that feel earned." - ScreenCraft
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CULTURALLY
half-hour comedy
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Logline:
When her Holocaust survivor grandmother dies and her boyfriend dumps her for not being Jewish enough, struggling actress Sarah Moskowitz begins a journey to confront her internalized antisemitism and embrace her cultural and personal identity. But it’s a comedy! (Or, traumedy).
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Placements:
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Semifinalist, WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab
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Second Rounder, Austin Film Festival
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Selected Coverage:
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"There is a lot to like in this well-written and funny script. The characters are engaging, the pacing and rhythm are spot-on, and the dialogue is frequently funny. As a lead character in their twenties, Sarah is easy to sympathize with since she's someone trying to find herself both culturally and spiritually. The comedic timing throughout the script was excellent and continues throughout. The characters and situations...set up in the pilot script feel like they could be mined for an entire season's worth of stories." - Austin Film Festival
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"Culturally manages to skirt a thin line between funny and honest, real and entertaining. The plight of Sarah in this series, while specific to the Jewish community, is a plight shared across minority/oppressed groups and, generally, anyone denying a crucial aspect of themselves in order to better try and fit in with the larger society from a cultural standpoint. The dialogue...brings it home and packs laugh after laugh into the pilot's runtime." - WeScreenplay
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HEY GUYS
half-hour comedy
Logline:
HEY GUYS is a half hour comedy that examines the world of social media through the eyes of Lainey Silver, an aspiring journalist struggling to be heard both at work and in her personal relationships. When Lainey accidentally goes viral after reluctantly trying to grow her social media presence, she’s thrust headfirst into a world where she must find her voice on a global stage.
Placements:
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Semifinalist, ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition
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Selected Coverage:
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"The plot is well done. It services the comedy and the characters and creates a compelling narrative. It’s well structured with an excellent pacing that makes for an enjoyable read. It’s got a strong three acts that make it easy to see what future episodes could look like. The characters are a strength of the writer. They drive the comedy...without coming across as too over the top or as caricatures. The dialogue is a highlight of the script. There’s a lot of memorable, quotable lines." - Austin Film Festival
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